DEWATERING is one of the most hazardous tasks when mining, quarrying, or tunnelling. Personnel such as drill operators are exposed to risk as they enter drilling and blasting areas to prime or move dewatering pumps, avoid trailing electrical cables in wet and obscured conditions, and navigate other hazards.
Dewatering pumps also need frequent attention. They must move often to avoid damage from rock falls or blast zones, and they incur heavy wear from ingesting large objects and shotcrete residue. All these factors add to frequent maintenance, component replacement, and manual interventions—especially for priming and snoring.
Xylem has developed the Godwin Rig Pump to tackle these specific dewatering challenges. This self-priming pump system solves the toughest dewatering challenges in mining by seamlessly integrating with drilling rigs and using state-of-the-art technology.
The pump sits at the back of a drilling rig and can be controlled directly from the rig’s cabin. The suction section and front pipe sit near the drilling face, removing the need for a submersible pump. The electric cables remain with the rig and away from the active drilling area or trailing behind the rig.
The pump can operate in intermittent flows, avoiding the high wear caused by snoring. It has the unique ability to run dry indefinitely, thanks to its liquid oil bath mechanical seal, solid silicon carbide rotating and stationary elements, and high-abrasion resistant faces.
Equipped with a hard-iron Flygt NC non-clog impeller, it handles troublesome shotcrete fibres, and the pipeline uses a pan strainer to manage large objects and other clogging hazards. It incorporates a non-return valve to protect the pump’s prime and avoid problems such as water hammer pressure surges.
Having proven its strength in several major mining markets, it is now available to African operators. Mines, quarries, and anyone with extreme dewatering requirements can integrate these new, easy-to-move compact pump systems that improve performance and reduce site risks.
Chetan Mistry, strategy and marketing manager at Xylem Africa, says the Godwin Rig Pump is superior in every way to previous options, improving safety, performance, efficiency, and lifetime value.
